Tamil Nadu’s high-level delegation led by Education and Archeological Minister Shri Thennarasu paid a courtesy call to Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Gandhinagar on Monday. Delegation acquainted Shri Modi about the millennium celebration of famous Brahadeeswarar mandir of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu which is scheduled to take place on 25th and 26th September and also conveyed greetings extended by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Shri Karunanidhi.

Delegation including Tamil Nadu Tourism Secretary Dr.V.Irai Ambu, Archeologists Dr.Nagasami, Thiru Natana Kashinathan and Dr.K.Balasubramanyam and minister Shri Thennarsu wished to take back a bronze statue believed to be that of the king who commissioned Brahadeeswarar mandir – the great Chola emperor Rajaraja I, and also a statue of his queen Lokamadevi. The statues are presently showcased at privately managed Calico Museum of Textiles, of Sarabhai Foundation in Ahmedabad. TN Chief minister M Karunanidhi has already written to Narendra Modi,seeking his help in bringing back home the 11th century statue.

The bronze statues were acquired by Sarabhai Foundation trustee Gautam Sarabhai in the 1940s.

According to historian Kudavayil Balasubramaniyan,inscriptions found in a mandapam located on the western side of the temple says that Thennavan Moovendha Velan,appointed the chief administrative officer of the temple by Rajaraja Chola,made statues of the emperor and his queen,Lokamadevi.When the king died in 1014 AD,his statue,located on the temple premises,was also worshipped.The descriptions and measurements of the statues mentioned in the inscription match those kept in the museum, he said. In the book Indian Bronze Masterpieces,published by the Festival of India in 1988,former director of the Tamil Nadu archaeology department and renowned archaeologist,Dr R Nagaswamy,said,there are two other bronze portraits now in the collection of Gautam Sarabhai in Ahmedabad.One is of royal personage standing with flowers in hand and the other is of a Chola king,both understandably belonging to the age of Rajaraja Chola circa 1010 AD.In all likelihood,they represent the great emperor Rajaraja himself and his queen Lokamadevi,who are mentioned in the inscription.